I recently rediscovered a friend online, wandering the web.  I worked with Liz for several years and she’s one of the most talented designers I know.  Visit her webpage  and check out her portfolio.  Her home page has a fabulous quote that I’ll share with you:

“If you wisely invest in beauty it will remain with you all the days of your life.”   – Frank Lloyd Wright

As a leading innovative architect and furniture designer of his time, Wright believed that building design should be organic …. involved with and centered in its surroundings primarily and only secondarily meeting the client’s needs.  He’s known for his extensive use of woods and natural materials, clean and simple lines and his Prarie homes (early 1900’s) are credited with being the first examples of an “open” plan.  Fallingwater is one of his most famous homes and it’s located in Pennsylvania.

Fallingwater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

The home is the embodiment of his philosophy of embracing the terrain and is built over a stream on the property. 

Taliesin, located in Phoenix, is another example of a home perfectly suited to its surroundings; it is low and flat, presenting a small, quiet footprint in the desert.  I had the opportunity to visit it a few years ago and it’s amazing how it blends so well into the desert that you’d drive right past it if not for all the signs. 

My visit to Taliesin by Frank Lloyd Wright, picture by Terrie

The stone and wood are all local and he designed much of the furniture as built-ins as he liked to do.  For such a simple design, it was so impressive. 

 Even though Wright was a sought after architect, he was notoriously difficult to work with and often in his eagerness to get a project built he would not give enough attention to details.  This led to construction issues and a number of his homes have required repair and reinforcement to their underlying structure (particularly Fallingwater).  I guess genius sometimes can’t be bothered with little things like what’s going to keep the building standing!

I got a little sidetracked talking about Wright rather than his quote.  “Invest wisely in beauty” are words all of us should hold dear….certainly it applies to home decorating – invest your dollars in things you love and that are well made so you can enjoy them for years.  Wouldn’t investing in beauty also include the written word – a great book?  A garden that brings year round pleasure?  Invest wisely – your time rather than dollars – into raising happy, well-adjusted children?